The Pac-12 conference has taken legal action against the Mountain West conference by filing a lawsuit in the Northern District of California challenging a costly "poaching fee." This fee, introduced by the Mountain West as a preventative measure in case the Pac-12 attempted to recruit schools from their league, amounts to over $10 million per school in damages. The Pac-12 has staunchly contested the enforceability of this penalty under antitrust law, stating that it is an illegal restraint on competition.

In recent weeks, the Pac-12 made significant moves by adding five schools from the Mountain West: Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Utah State. As part of the agreement between the two conferences, the Pac-12 would be obligated to pay more than $50 million in poaching fees alone, not including the standard $17 million exit fee per school. The legal dispute between the Pac-12 and the Mountain West has brought to light the complexities of conference realignment and the financial implications involved in such dealings.

The timing of the poaching penalty is intriguing, set to extend through at least August 1, 2027, beyond the expiration of the Mountain West's TV contracts in 2026. With the addition of the five Mountain West schools, the Pac-12 is now just one participant away from the minimum of eight teams needed to maintain FBS conference status by 2026, a requirement set by the NCAA. UNLV's pivotal decision on whether to remain in the Mountain West or join the Pac-12 could significantly impact the future landscape of college sports realignment.